Poland Missions – Page 3

Post trip thoughts.

Wow a lot has happened in the 10 days since we returned. We find out we’re having a baby, our head pastors change (we knew about this for over a year though), and my company has the equivalent of a divorce (long story, might mention some other time).

However, the most significant thing (the baby thing) is so wonderful the other things are overshadowed (and only one of the other things is bad, the job thing). In this time since we have returned we’ve had some culture shock that happens each year, yet this time it seemed more surreal.

You see, the church we attend has nearly 5,000 people each weekend walking through its doors. The church we help with in Poland, has probably close to 5 on average, and 15 on a good day. The difference? Nothing, they are both part of the church of Jesus. The biggest difference is that while most people in our home church have a “shopping” mentality (despite the urgency of our leaders and pastors to plug in, take ownership, even if its at another church), a lot of people in this culture see church as something to “get something from”. I hear the phrases “I just didn’t get anything from the sermon” or “I just don’t get into worship”, or a number of other “I just don’t get….” all too often.

However in Poland, yes there’s a few choices, nearly all are seen as a sect or cult (in American terms, cult is more of the perspective). Even the small church plant we work with is seen as a sect, and the local religious radio station has warned parents and adults to “be ware” of our activities we could be out for “brainwashing” them. Of the choices of Christian, bible believing and teaching communities, there’s a large schism between them. Some are ultra Pentecostal in the scary “what you see on TV” kind of way, others are very closed, and preach to people that they should “repent of their Catholicism” (in a country that identifies themselves as more than 90% Catholic this is not a grace based teaching).

For Polish Christians to find, a safe place, where all are accepted, even when their are disagreements, where some still identify to be Catholic, is extremely rare.

Then Alexis and I come home, and we reenter our home church for a worship service with 1,000 other people, it brings us to tears each time. For us to take this place for granted would be for us to commit the same act as Judas.

Never forsake the fellowship, even though it may drive you crazy, that person driving you crazy is put there by God, to grow grace and character in you. Some people don’t have the liberty to simply choose a place. The church is all we have, love it, as Christ loves it.

A quick video from our time here in Poland!

I digress

Poland is a wonderful place. Thanks to everyone who has sent encouraging words, yes it’s a little tough, but then I am reminded that God’s creation is beautiful even the parts that irritate me, I am simply human. I am reminded that we are here for a reason, a reason that surpasses my understanding and the feelings around me. We are here for his work, his amazing, glorious work. We have friends here, true friends, and we have brothers and sisters in Him, the two are not necessarily the same, most of the time yes, some of the time not. It’s the some of the time that get’s me irritated. Alexis and I should go and take a walk, enjoy the God’s creation, and simply be, instead of trying to do, that seems to be God’s desire for the moment.

Thanks again,

Live from Poland..

Hey!

Alexis and I are in Poland right now, I find myself very tired at the moment, irritable, and I simply want to be away from people. Normally I like to be with others, but even people like me have a limit to how much time you can be around people. So as we spend time with our friends here, we realize the need for healing and restoration here. If only people were aware of the freedom that true grace brings, not just here in Poland, but all around the world. God’s grace is 100% sufficient for everyone. Problems occur and fellowship is distrupted when hurt people hurt other hurting people, most of the time this is caused by people not knowing what their identity is as a Christian. We have authority, we are created in God’s image, not other’s, and most of all we choose to be like Christ. No one can tell you what Christ has given you, only we can choose that for ourselves, we choose to believe it, and to walk into it. We submit to Christ, we allow his counsel, his hands, and feet (this is the church) to mentor us, through mutual friends, our pastors, and his Spirit. This is what our ministry in Poland is based on. Applying His word to our lives, living as Christ did, and walking out grace. There is hope.

Serving him,

In Poland

Hey everyone,

We’re here in Poland now, been here since Wednesday. The youth camp in France went very well, I plan on posting some videos and pictures soon. The theme of the camp was “Coming together, going deeper”, each night (except one) a French pastor spoke to the campers. Before we left I felt the Lord tell me to have no expections, and simply observe, this is precisly what I did. It was good, although at times I wanted to minister and wanted to feel God’s touch, just to recieve, yet none of that happened. Instead the Lord had me obeserve, and intercede for others. God is creating in me a sense of peace through all of this, I’m learning to process things, and listen to his instructions, instead of jumping on knowledge and instinct.

Here we GO!

Hey everyone,

Well Alexis and I are almost packed, just a few things to put away before we head to the airport tomorrow morning! Thanks for all of your prayers, financial support, and simply being our friends! While we are in France and Poland we’ll be seeing many of our friends there, many whom we only see about once a year. Our hearts are to encourage them in their faith and walk with God. As Paul says in Romans 1:12 (NLT) – “I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.”

We are still in need of financial support, all of the bare minimum things are paid for, such as transportation and lodging, and food for most of the trip. However, due to a strong Euro and weaker US Dollar, and an unanticipated two night hotel stay in Lyon (due to overbooking at the camp’s location) our team is short by about 1,000 Euros (that’s $1,370.8996). We know God will provide for us, if it’s through people’s donations or through provisions in other ways we are confident that God’s will is at hand. Any amount would help us in offsetting this deficit for the rest of the team.

Thanks again!

To donate please send a check payable to “Mission Dispatch” and put “Mielonen” on the memo line. OR donate via PayPal on the right!

Mission Dispatch
RE: Travis & Alexis Mielonen
21911 76th Ave W., Suite 211
Edmonds, WA 98026

Thanks!

In the Swiss mountains.

In spring of 2004 I had the opportunity to go to our denominational meeting for Europe, it just so happened to be in Emmeton (I think I butchered the spelling), Switzerland (near Luzerne). During that time I was privileged to hear from the outgoing European leadership, who were Americans living in Frankfurt, Germany. The Shaws had been living in Germany for 16 years, first as missionaries to plant churches in Germany, than as the head of Foursquare Europe.

While I was listening to how God had moved them into different seasons the Lord moved on my heart with such passion that I really can not explain how I felt, except that it involved tears for the better part of two hours. I also knew one thing for sure, God was calling me back to Poland; and more than just another year, he called me to an undetermined amount of time, the question, at that point, was, how long?

It has been a little over three years since that day, and I don’t regret a minute of it, and the desires, dreams, and visions only get stronger. With each trip back to Poland it becomes more apparent that it is the place for us to be. Hearing God’s voice in such an emotional way can be very confusing, yet he promised it, so we seek, we ask, and we knock. With each and every step of obedience, from school, to ministry, to focusing on our personal priorities and walks with Jesus, we know we are in the grace and will of our God.

This one day in Poland…

I was driving to the next town, about 20 minutes from where I lived in Zakopane, Poland and listening to a CD that a friend had sent me, of this group that at the time I had never heard of called “Casting Crowns“. Then it happened, track three came on “Voice of truth“.

You see I was by my self that week, the missionaries I was helping were off in Switzerland for a sabbatical. I was on my way to pick up a couple of people for our Wednesday night meeting with young adults. Earlier in the day a number of people had pretty much cancled, and the two I was going to pick up weren’t even really sure they wanted to be there. I was very upset, and when that song came on it’s like a flood gate of emotions came out. I so badly wanted these friends of mine to understand the relationship that Jesus wants with them. I also was feeling rejection, unqualified, and not so motivated to be in a place that seemed so dray, so unforgiving, and uninteretsed in the ONE that I love without condition.

On that day I learned a valuable lesson, that Jesus is the voice of truth, I can not let the opinions, actions, and words of people sway the calling on my life. In the short year that I was there I went from being very excited and optimistic, to down right depressed. Yet God was quietly spoke the truth of who he was calling me to be. Although I ranted and raved and told God I hated the country, He created an even bigger passion than I thought I could ever have, and I love Poland, her people, her history, and everything about her in a way that only God could ever lay on a person’s heart. Alexis is right here with me in the same boat reading the same page, it’s a journey and a promise bigger than us, keeping us humble for his service.

Momentum

Alexis and I are slowing gaining momentum in our missions plans. This coming March/February we’ll be going back to Poland, and only Poland, with possibly 8 others. This is great because it allows us to begin creating a network of people, to serve, and to serve with. As more people begin to see our vision for Poland the momentum will gain.

There is another couple who have been instrumental in the entire Poland process since day one, they have created a new initiative called “12×12” which is to have 12 new church plants by the year 2012 in Europe, specifically Germany, Poland, and Holland. They want to help build up leaders, train, equip, and release them to do ministry in their homelands… sounds familiar, it is, this is what Alexis and I have been saying all along about Poland. This couple is teaming up with us right here in our home church, along with their vision and skills, we can see that God is bringing all kinds of people together to build His church.

We will soon be fundraising year round, it’s huge, it’s way bigger than us. Best of all it is so exciting and we know and are confident in our direction, the details are coming into place, and the support base is building. Thanks for all your prayers and support, in both finances, and in wisdom.

One year and a lifetime more to come!

Alexis and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary this past weekend (yesterday was the actual day), it was great! We went to Seaside and Cannon Beach both in Oregon and loved it, the weather was pretty good, although a little overcast (while Portland was baking, today it’s reaching 100!). I’ll post pictures as soon as I think about it, I didn’t even think of using my phone to post pictures and videos, we were just having that much fun 😛

Thanks for all your prayers and support, see you later!

PS. We leave for France/Poland on the 26th, just a couple of weeks! We’ve fund raised $8,000 of the $9,000 we need, the rest is coming out of our own pockets, hopefully a few more donations come in so our time in Poland is free of money stress. Thanks again!